Sutera plant named ‘Blisch’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Sutera  plant named ‘Blisch’ characterized by its large white-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage and a spreading and trailing growth habit.

Latin name of the genus and species of plant claimed: Sutera cordata.

Variety denomination. ‘Blisch’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Suteraplant botanically known as Sutera cordata and hereinafter referred to bythe cultivar name ‘Blisch’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program during thesummer of 2000 at Billerbeck, Germany. The progeny of this breeding wereevaluated in the summer of 2001 and one plant among that progeny wasselected and eventually named ‘Blisch’. The objective of the breedingprogram was the development of Sutera cultivars with a trailing habitand large flowers.

The identity of the female (seed) parent of the new cultivar used in theabove-described breeding program by the inventor is not known. Theidentity of the male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar used in theabove-described breeding program by the inventor is not known.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings takensince 2001 in West Chicago, Ill., has demonstrated that the new cultivarreproduces true to type with all the characteristics, as hereindescribed, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations ofsuch asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length without, however, any variance ingenotype.

It was repeatedly found that the cultivar of the present invention:

-   -   1. Exhibits large white-colored flowers,    -   2. Forms dark green-colored foliage, and    -   3. Exhibits a spreading and trailing growth habit.

Of the many Sutera cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar tothe new cultivar is ‘Novasnow’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,026). However, ina side-by-side comparison, conducted at West Chicago, Ill., plants ofthe new cultivar differed from plants of ‘Novasnow’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar had smaller leaves than plants of        ‘Novasnow’, and    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar had a larger area of spread than        plants of ‘Novasnow’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Blisch’. Theplants were grown in 10 cm pots for 9 weeks in a greenhouse at WestChicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Blisch’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual leaf and flower of‘Blisch’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,1995 edition, except where color terms of ordinary significance areused. The color values were determined on Jul. 14, 2003, between 10:30and 11:30 a.m. under natural daylight conditions.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a doublepolycarbonate-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to thoseused in commercial practice. Plants were grown in 10 cm pots for 9weeks, while utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatureswere maintained at approximately 65-75° F. during the day andapproximately 55-60° F. during the night. Greenhouse light levels weremaintained at approximately 4,000-8,000 footcandles during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Sutera cordata, cultivar ‘Blisch’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Is unknown.        -   Male parent.—Is unknown.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 10 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Crop time.—Approximately 5-7 weeks from planting of a rooted            cutting.        -   Growth habit.—Moderately vigorous with good basal branching.            Pinching improves basal branching.        -   Form.—Spreading and trailing.        -   Size.—A mature plant, 9 weeks after the planting of a rooted            cutting, commonly measures approximately 9 cm in height from            soil level to top of plant plane and approximately 48.2 cm            in diameter (plant spread).        -   Branch description.—Quantity: Approximately 6 main branches            with lateral branches at every node. Strength: Strong.            Length of main branches: Approximately 26 cm. Diameter of            main branches: Approximately 2 mm. Length of lateral            branches: Approximately 16 cm. Diameter of lateral branches:            1.8 mm. Texture of all branches: Densely pubescent with            short soft hairs. Color of all branches: 144A. Internode            length at middle of main branch is approximately 2.8 cm.        -   Foliage.—Quantity: Approximately 30 per main branch.            Fragrance: Pungent. Form: Simple. Arrangement: Opposite.            Aspect: At an acute angle to the stem. Shape: Ovate. Margin:            Dentate. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Truncate. Venation            pattern: Pinnate. Leaf length: Approximately 1.3 cm. Leaf            width: Approximately 1.4 cm. Texture of upper surface:            Puberulent. Texture of lower surface: Glabrous with dense            pubescence along veins. Color of upper surface of both young            and mature foliage: 137A with venation of 143B. Color of            lower surface of both young and mature foliage: 137C with            venation of 143B. Petiole length: Approximately 3.3 mm.            Petiole diameter: Approximately 1 mm. Petiole texture:            Densely pubescent. Petiole color: Closest to 143B.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering under outdoor growing            conditions with substantially continuous blooming from            spring through fall, and year round in greenhouse            environment.-   Flower description:    -   -   Type.—Solitary, axillary and salverform. Flowers are            persistent and non fragrant.        -   Bud.—Shape: Globular. Length: Approximately 6.3 mm.            Diameter: Approximately 4.3 mm. Color: 155D.        -   Corolla.—Shape: Round. Diameter: Approximately 1.7 cm.            Corolla is composed of five rectangular shaped petals fused            at the base forming a tube. Petals are iridescent. Petal            length from the tube opening: Approximately 5 mm. Petal            width: Approximately 3 mm. Petal margin: Entire. Apex: Flat            to somewhat emarginated. Petal texture: Glabrous. Color of            upper surface of petals when flower is opening and when            fully opened is closest to 155D. Color at base of petals,            around tube opening, and into the tube: 151C. Color of lower            surface of petals both when opening and when fully opened:            Closest to 155D. Corolla tube: Length: Approximately 1.2 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 2 mm. Texture: Pubescent on both            inner and outer surface. Color of both inner and outer            surface: 154D. Color of tube venation: 12A. Corolla depth:            Approximately 2 mm.        -   Calyx.—Formed by five sepals, fused at base to form tube.            Sepal shape: Linear. Sepal width: 0.07 mm. Sepal apex:            Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Texture: Both surfaces: Densely            pubescent. Color of both surfaces: 138A. Calyx length:            Approximately 3 mm. Diameter at apex: Approximately 4 mm.            Diameter at base: Approximately 2 mm.        -   Peduncle.—Moderately strong. Texture: Densely pubescent.            Aspect: At an acute angle to the stem. Length: Approximately            7 mm. Diameter: 1 mm. Color: 144B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: There are 4 stamens fused            to the inside of the corolla tube, 2 above and 2 below the            stigma. Anther length: Approximately 1 mm. Anther color: 7B.            Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: 13B. Gynoecium:            Pistil quantity: One. Pistil length: Approximately 9 mm.            Stigma length: Approximately 1 mm. Stigma color: 144C. Style            length: Approximately 6 mm. Style color: N144C. Ovary            diameter: Approximately 2 mm. Ovary color: 144C.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Sutera has not been observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Sutera cordata named ‘Blisch’substantially as herein shown and described.